LA SAGRADA FAMILIA and other Barcelona, Spain Things to Do Tips

This might be one of the most famous attractions in Barcelona, at least it was the one I had heard the most of before coming there. I saw it quite late in my stay and was a little bit disappointed.

The church was really a great sight, but I had seen so many other wonderful things that I hadn't expected to see. So when I finally came to the one thing I had been looking forward to, it wasn't as magnificent as I had imagined.

But that said, it was still a really amazing place! And you have to see it if you go to the city. But I have learned that it is better not to expect anything, and just to be carried away of what you see when you are there.

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Phone: 93 207 30 31
Address: Carrer de Mallorca 401
Directions: Metro: Line 2 or 5
Station: SagradaFamilia
Website: www.sagradafamilia.org

The name means Temple of the Sacred Family, and was (of course) built by Gaudí. The man who put his magnificent fingerprints all over the city.

The church is a world-wide symbol of Barcelona, and was started in 1883. Gaudí dedicated the last years of his life to this building, but because of his sudden death it was left unfinished.

During the Civil War all of his papers and drawings were burned in 1936, and it put a stop to the work on finishing the church. In 1952 they started working on it again and work is still beeing carried out there today, but some say this project will never be finished.

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Phone: 93 207 30 31
Address: Carrer de Mallorca 401
Directions: Metro: Line 2 or 5
Station: SagradaFamilia
Website: www.sagradafamilia.org

This house is actually called Casa Mila (the house of Mila), but it is also known as La Pedrera (the quarry).

It is an apartment building that was built between 1906 and 1910 for the Mila family, and it is the last example of Gaudi's civil architecture. This is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, it is very innovative in functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects.

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Phone: 93 484 5900
Address: Passeig de Gràcia 92, Carrer Provenca 261
Directions: Eixample district
Metro 'FGC Diagonal/Provenca'

The facade is made of rough-chipped stone and looks like an impressive wave-like mass. It is built by Gaudí who saw it as a petrified wave, and the hard materials contrasts with the moving waves.

The wrought iron, especially on the balconies, have beautiful and very special forms. On the roof there are plenty sculptured spirals crowned by four repeated crosses and faced with broken pieces of ceramic.

The whole building is really a fantastic sight, looking like nothing else that you have seen before.

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Phone: 93 484 5900
Address: Passeig de Gràcia 92, Carrer Provenca 261
Directions: Eixample district Metro 'FGC Diagonal/Provenca'

What a great place to build a park! And what a great park that was built! This is really an amazing place. After a long day of sightseeing and walking in the city, this is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the view of the city.

This park is also by Gaudí, who planned and directed the construction from 1900 to 1914. It was actually built for Eusebi Güell as a residential garden city based on English models. The plan was to have 60 single-family houses here, but the project was unsuccessful and the park became city property in 1923.

But it is nevertheless one of Gaudí's most colorful and playful works, even if it was never fully completed.

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Phone: 93-317-39-740
Address: Carrer d'Olot 7, Vallcarca, Gràcia, 08024
Directions: Metro; line 3.
Lesseps Station, then follow the street signs.
Website: www.bcn.es/parcsijardins

There are two pavilions at the main entrance that completes the wall surrounding the park. These were intended to be a porter's lodge and an administrative building.

They are made of flat-laid brick finished with pieces of broken ceramic called trencadís. The ceramic trencadís follows the geometric surfaces that gives all of the park's ornamentation a unique beauty.

On both of the roofs there is a small dome with a tall, spiral-shaped tower with colorful tiles and the characteristic four-branched cross of Gaudí.

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Phone: 93-317-39-740
Address: Carrer d'Olot 7, Vallcarca, Gràcia, 08024
Directions: Metro; line 3.
Lesseps Station, then follow the street signs.
Website: www.bcn.es/parcsijardins

When you enter the park there is a grand stairway divided by a mythological dragon or lizard. This actually serves as an overflow for the cistern of the park. The stairway leads to a large hall that was supposed to be the market place.

The hall is built with 84 columns, inspired by Doric columns. They support the great upper plaza, which is a really nice balcony with a great view of the city and the sea.

The large plaza is surrounded by an extraordinary balustrade-bench. It twists like a serpentine and forms winding courses, recesses, and small enclosed areas. It is said to be the largest bench in the world, and looking at the long winding bench, it is not so hard to believe. It is decorated with brightly colored trencadís that creates a spectacular collage of color and texture.

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Phone: 93-317-39-740
Address: Carrer d'Olot 7, Vallcarca, Gràcia, 08024
Directions: Metro; line 3.
Lesseps Station, then follow the street signs.
Website: www.bcn.es/parcsijardins

This colorful house is an apartment building located at Passeig de Gràcia. On a commission from the textile industrialist Josep Batlló it was totally renovated by Gaudí from 1904 to 1906.

It reflects an intense and abstract naturalism. It is decorated with ceramics of brilliant and subtle colors. At the first floor level is a striking stone structure in the form of a loggia (roofed open gallery), and it is supported by columns and frame windows decorated with stained glass.

The ceramics and multi-colored glassmosaics of the upper part are interrupted by ironbalconies in the form of masks. On top of the whole is a tileroof over double garrets which ressembles the back of a fantastic dragon.

On the roof is also a round tower with a floral dome, topped with the four-branched cross which was one of Gaudí's favorite motives. Behind are the colorful sculpted chimneys with their allusions to sturdy guardians.

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It lies in the area El Born, which is part of the old city. Situated north-east of the Barri Gòtic, the old area that was surrounded by walls. It was designed by Josép Vilaseca, and made of red bricks.

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Address: Passeig de Lluis Companys.
Directions: Barri Gotic Metro: Arc de Triomf.

This park is situated in the Barri Gotic, and you can find many huge, important museums of art and culture, and even a great lake where you can rent boats.

This was originally a fortress made in the shape of a star, built for King Felipe V in 1715. But after an 18 month seige the fortress fell, and after a while it was a hated symbol of oppression for the locals. Under the Napoleonic regime it was used as a prison.

General Prim destroyed the Citadel in 1878, and a statue was erected to him on the spot. Now this is a public garden and exhibition space. You can find palaces of typical Spanish architecture filled with art here.

In 1888 the park was used for the Universal Exhibition and many of the beautiful buildings were constructed for that. The gardens and fountains were also designed in that time, partly by a very young Gaudí.

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Address: Avingudade del Marquès de l'Argentera
Directions: On the edge of Ribera district. Near Barri Gothic, Cathedral Seu and Port Vell.
Website: www.barcelonaturisme.com